Canola Cultivation in Arid
Area
By Abdul Sattare Anjum
The
edible oil import costs can be controlled with the canola
cultivation in arid areas and to meet the local dietary
needs.
It was said on 11.09.2014 by Dr. Muh. Azeem Khan, Director
General, National
Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad during a farmers
gathering on a farm-house of a local farmer at village
Karsal , Tala Gang , District Chakwal.
As the “staff of life” to multitudes, annual harvest
assessments are important.
A local farmer group, Local Support Organization (LSO)
Kersal administered by the National Rural Support Program.
To strengthen the theme of
APNA UGAAO, APNA HKAAO, organized this participatory
training program.
He said that economic development would be revolutionary due
to cluster/family agriculture in arid areas, so the farming
community would be facilitated with PARC hybrid Canola seed
besides a seed-dressing product Biozote on cheap rates.
Moreover, tractor drills would be made available to
support the smallholder clusters to overcome the hindrances
during sowing and other farm practices.
NARC expert teams would be working in these areas for the
guidance of the cluster farmers even with the follow up
program up to harvesting.
On the occasion, he promised that a PARC component PATCO
would extend it support regarding purchase of commodity from
farmers on higher rates to boost up the smallholder family
income.
Furthermore, the cultivation
of soya bean and olive would also be considered a high
priority in addition to other crops such as oil seeds, wheat
and pulses.
He mentioned about some
mutual projects with PARC and National Rural Support Program
(NRSP) for the wellbeing of the people of arid areas in near
future.
After this, NARC experts Dr. Muhammad Ayub Khan (PL.,Oilseed
Program), Dr. Abdul Rashid, Dr. Muhammad Amjad and Director
Outreach Mr.Roshan Zada delivered lectures on PARC Canola
hybrid from selection of site up to harvesting and storage.
Tariq Sultan (PATCO) and
Abdul Sattar Anjum (Directorate of Outreach) were also
present to facilitate the farming community with printed
literature and sharing experiences during seed drill
demonstration with experts of Farm Machinery Institute, NARC
and farmers.
After this, Sayyed Muhammad Nasir Ali, Managing Director,
Pakistan Oil Seed Development Board expressed his views as a
revolutionary step for economic development of the
smallholders of the arid areas.
He said that canola
cultivation would fulfill the domestic needs and also family
health would be improved with the use of cholesterol free
healthy oil.
This crop would be helpful
in environmental beauty along with beneficial for the honey
production.
At the end, Malik Fateh Khan NRSP Coordinator, denoted this
campaign, a better economic future for the people of the
arid areas.
He advised the farming
community to keep in touch with NARC agricultural experts
regarding crop production for their better livelihoods.
More information can be taken from Abdul Sattare Anjum Scientific
Officer Directorate of Outreach NARC Islamabad
(03435047421) and Dr. Muhammad Ayub Khan (051-90733682)
regarding Canola Hybrids and its cultivation.
September 2014
Courtesy:
Pakissan Yahoo Forum